Who should play Klaus on The Vampire Diaries?

It's a question TV Fanatic readers continue to ponder, and they are not alone. Producer Julie Plec told EW this week that it's been a challenge to cast the oldest, meanest vampire on the planet.

“We’ve been getting great tapes out of England and Australia. That’s what excites me: This idea that there might be somebody out there that no one’s really familiar with yet that can be a new fresh face that we can exploit... in all the good ways,” Plec says. “I think our show works so well because we don’t really stunt cast."

Plec promises Klaus will appear before the season is over, while offering the following basic concept behind the villain:

“The important elements are charisma and gravitas. You’ve got to be able to be afraid of this guy, whether you’re afraid of him because he looks scary or because he’s so charming that the fact that he can snap your neck with his pinky would take you by surprise. So whether he’s an Old Word-flavored guy or new hip, contemporary, speedy kinda guy, that remains to be seen. We’ll see what actor we connect to the most.”

Once again, we encourage all suggestions: Who do you think should take on the role?

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.